The Zhou lab, which has specialized in nanowire and nanotube technology for years, performed the complex set of procedures to synthesize the wires. In tests, the group performed if anything better than predictions, showing a standard and low level of activity when no SARS protein was present, leaping quickly to a higher level when the protein was introduced, in response patterns that varied consistently according to concentration of the SARS protein.
Devices complete except for the detector molecule showed no response at all.
The response was complete in less than ten minutes, compared to hours needed for results from ELISA tests, which are basically present/not present tests with relatively little quantitative elements.
Next steps are to enable detection in more complex environment, such as Serum and whole blood, by integrating the nanobiosensor with micro systems such as microfluidics chips and micro filters.
Here are descriptions of other existing nanobiosensor systems:
http://technologyreview.com/biomedicine/18028/
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16417
The USC team believes their new system has potential to be cheaper and more portable than either.
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